Unique Surface Materials

When it comes to a home renovation, there are various surface options for homeowners to consider. From flooring to tiling, enjoy the benefits these unique materials will bring to your home.

Ceramic Tile

As a natural, energy efficient and renewable material, ceramic tile has been a popular choice for many homeowners. With a multitude of colors and uses, people enjoy its durability, beauty and easy to clean properties. Many homeowners opt to install ceramic around their fireplaces, woodstoves and kitchen stoves since the material is non-flammable. Another great benefit is the material’s perceived value and how it can increase the appraisal of one’s home. I really like how the tile’s thermal mass outshines wood as it absorbs heat during the day and then radiates it back into the home at night.

Cork

If you’re looking for a durable material, you will love the benefits of cork. The material can stand up to heavy foot traffic and is perfect for floors, walls and countertop. What I really enjoy about the material is how easy cork is to maintain and repair. Moreover, cork is a popular choice for its ability to act as a natural insulator, with the added value of terrific sound absorption. With a variety of beautiful colors to choose from, you’ll love bringing this soft, earthy material into your home.

Resin

Available in a variety of colors, resin is a liquid that hardens onto materials as a hard lacquer or enamel-like finish. As a natural material from plants, it provides an excellent component as a varnish or fabricator to protect applications from cracking and osmosis. Consider using the material on counters, sinks and bathtubs.

Ray’s Favorite Things for the Kitchen

When it comes to designing a kitchen, Ray loves bringing in the technical aspects that are needed to make the space functional for homeowners. Below, you’ll learn some of Ray’s favorite things that will make life in the kitchen enjoyable and convenient.

Wolf Dual Fuel Ranges

While offering a wide variety of top configurations and standard dual stacked surface burners, Wolf’s 48″ Dual Range is a great option for large families and those that like to entertain. The optional steel griddle, infrared charbroiler and French Top give you the freedom to customize your dual fuel range. The large electric oven features Wolf’s dual convection system that helps to deliver even temperature and airflow throughout.

Sub-Zero PRO 48 Refrigeration

Appliances have always been the bling of the kitchen when it comes to making a statement. With it’s bold stainless steel design, Sub-Zero’s PRO 48 Refrigeration is sure to have your neighbors talking. This model provides dual refrigeration that keeps foods fresher longer and prevents odor transfer.

Kohler HiRise Wall-Mount Kitchen Pot Filler

Ease and convenience are the two words that best describe Kohler’s HiRise Wall-Mount Pot Filler. You’ll love having its extensive 24″ reach capability for professional cooktops and ranges that will help you from leaning over the cooking area, or filling the pots at the sink. This model comes in two finishes, brushed and polished stainless, that will provide outstanding durability.

Radiant Floor Heating

For an efficient way to heat a room, radiant floor heating can help increase comfort and decrease your home’s energy bill. It’s a great option to help eliminate bulky radiators and baseboard heat, and to make your kitchen floor nice and warm to walk on.

Wood-Mode Roll-Out Trays

We’ll admit it, digging through you kitchen cabinets to find that pot or pan can be a major hassle. So, why not make life easier with the functional roll-out trays from Wood-Mode? They make much better use of the cabinets’ space and nothing gets lost in the back of the cabinet cave. Ray believes these are the best value for the money when you are selecting accessories for your kitchen.

Anna’s Favorite Things for the Bathroom

When it comes to renovating homes, Anna loves to bring her passion for fine arts and historic backgrounds to her designs. Below, Anna introduces you to some decadent pieces that will create a classic and cozy feel into your bathroom.

Gramercy Double Metal Washstand

Introduce simplicity into your bathroom with a classic metal washstand. The Gramercy Double Metal Washstand is perfect for “his and her” vanity sinks and brings a modern flair with its polished nickel finish. What is great about this washstand is that it includes the sink top, base and basin. Anna recommends pairing a Carrera marble countertop with the washstand.

Perrin and Rowe Edwardian Faucet in Polished Nickel

When it comes to the sink, consider the Perrin and Rowe Edwardian Faucet. Perrin and Rowe’s 3 hole widespread faucet allows for more room between the faucet handles and spout. Consider installing this beautiful faucet set for larger sink basins, or even for the master bathroom.

Victoria and Albert Shropshire Slipper Tub

With more homeowners choosing to separate the shower and the bath, add a little elegance into your space with a slipper tub. For a classic look, you’ll enjoy Victoria and Albert Shropshire Slipper Tub. This model is ergonomically comfortable with its compact dimensions making it great for smaller bathrooms, too!

Wesaunard Towel Warmer and Radiator

Pamper yourself when you dry off with a towel warmer that doubles as a radiator. The Wesaunard towel warmer and radiator provides extra heat and brings a Victorian Style luxury into your bathroom.

Walnut Toilet Seat

Bring style and contrast into your bathroom with a walnut toilet seat cover. Your toilet needs more consideration than you think. So, why not impress you and your guests with this eye-catching combination?

Laura’s Favorite Things for the Kitchen

When it comes to the kitchen, it is difficult for me to narrow my list of favorite things. I could literately talk all day long about cabinetry, windows, appliances and more. However hard it may have been, below are my top 5 favorite things in the kitchen.

Soapstone Countertop

In the kitchen, the number one countertop material I recommend for homeowners is soapstone. This material is an excellent choice because it is heat resistant, a great option for those who cook on a daily basis. You do need to be careful about scratching the countertop, but you can remvove scratches easily by lightly sanding the area. Soapstone is also nonporous, so it does not need to be sealed. Most natural stones like granite and marbles need to be periodically sealed to prevent staining, in fact some stones even after being sealed will still stain. Soapstone is a very dense stone which will not absorb anything.

Heartland Dual Fuel Range

With a chic and sleek design, Heartland’s Dual Fuel Range is a beautiful choice for the kitchen. It’s also a dual range that I have loved having in my home. This unit comes complete with 4 gas burners, easy clean, porcelain coated solid cast iron grates and burner bowls and is available in 30 or 36 inch models. The dual fuel range offers the power and precision of the propane cooktop combined with the efficiency and convenience of the room 4 cubic foot self-cleaning electric convection oven.

Floating Shelves

For an open airy feel, a floating shelf makes it easy to reach items within the kitchen. From pots and pans to canisters, you can store practically anything on floating shelves. I recommend mixing floating shelves in with your closed-in cabinets to diversify the look in your kitchen.

KitchenAid’s Double-Drawer Dishwasher

The double drawer dishwashers are really a great appliance to have in your household. With KitchenAid’s double-drawer dishwasher, you’ll love its sleek design and that it is quieter than standard dishwashers. This appliance also features two drawers to give you the convenience of two dishwashers in one, and provides the same easy to access drawers as higher-end models. Another plus, it’s energy efficient! Unlike your regular dishwasher, you can wash smaller loads and use less power.

Moen’s 90 Degree Stainless Faucet

Pull-out faucets are a great convenience option for the kitchen, and I’m in love with Moen’s 90 Degree Stainless Faucet. With its attractive design, you’ll love it’s easy to install and clean functions for everyday use in the kitchen. This pull-out faucet brings function with it’s swivels and sprays that provide lots of room to clean and fill large pots. It’s another kitchen product I am proud to use on a daily basis in my own home.

Don’t miss tomorrow’s article as Anna shares her favorite things for the bathroom!

-Laura

Designing an Unique and Opulent Bathroom Vanity

The other day I was talking to Anna, one of our designers, and we were reminiscing about past projects. One of her favorite renovations involved designing a bathroom for a new home. The homeowners were working with Tralongo Builders in Schenectady, NY and wanted CCW to design a unique furniture piece with rich, ornate details for the master bathroom.

When creating a rich feel for a room, you should consider darker colors for the cabinets. The cabinetry in the bathroom was a cherry wood and stained with the color mocha. We enhanced the overall appeal of the piece with Louis Philippe Columns and Enkeboll Hand Carved mouldings for the Crest Top. To add a unique design for the cabinet doors, Anna recommended a Pelham Manor Raised Panel door style. Once the furniture piece was designed and installed, a Copper Canyon granite countertop was selected to match the colors of the painted walls and tiled floor. Lastly, an under mount Porcelain Sink was added with Delta Victorian Series faucet in a Oil Rubbed Bronze.

It was exciting to design this detailed furniture piece! Congratulations Anna on a wonderful design and achieving the look our clients wanted for their home!

-Laura

Rethink the Bathroom Sink

The kitchen may be highly trafficked, but don’t forget the other central hub in the home: the bathroom.  It’s the room all guests ask for and a place for a homeowner to relax after a long day.  If you’re renovating the bathroom, it’s important to not overlook any details, especially the sink.

With a wide variety of styles and materials, there’s plenty of room to be creative and find the sink that will have everyone looking forward to washing their hands.

Self-Rimming

The safest and oldest style is having the sink sit on top of the counter.  By cutting a large hole into the countertop, you can drop the sink into place and secure with caulk.  This is a great option that allows homeowners to mix-and-match different countertop and sink materials.  However, it’s important to know how difficult it is to keep the rim of the sink clean.

Vessels

If you really want to bring the wow factor to your bathroom, consider the vessel sink.  This growing trend provides a bold standout by having the sink sit on top of the countertop.  With a variety of materials to choose from, (glass, stone, ceramic and certain metals), you can be creative with different styles and colors.  However, if you consider a metal sink made from cooper and stainless steel, be aware that they are easy to scratch.  Also, glass vessels are gorgeous, but with fingerprints and possible mineral deposits, you’ll want to use a soft towel to wipe down after every use.

Pedestal

Having a pedestal sink is a fun design for a bathroom that doesn’t need a lot of storage space.  Some materials to choose from include porcelain, vitreous china, copper, glass and stone. Also, don’t limit yourself to traditional models. There are square or rectangular shapes, semi-circle or other creative designs to choose from.

Wall-Mount

This vintage design is great for half baths and powder rooms.  These sinks keep the floor area open when space is at a premium and are height adjustable for children and those in need of wheelchair access.  Most wall-mount sinks are not designed for countertop space, but you can find different styles that provide additional length.  Also, some wall-mounted sinks have built-in storage compartments.  And if you’re not a fan of the exposed piping, consider covering it up with a concealed arm or wall support.

Undermount

This dominating trend provides a smooth and clean appearance that is perfect for today’s modern design.  Unlike self-rimming sinks that sit on top of the countertop, these sinks are mounted underneath with clips.  You’ll also enjoy how easy it is to keep the sink clean without having the rim area on top of the countertop.